THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



known whistling note, uttered quickly in succession, 

 sounds faintly from the sky ; nearer and nearer the birds 

 come, and the cries sound louder until they are more or 

 less overhead for a few moments ; then as gradually they 

 decrease in loudness, and finally cease as the flock hurries 

 northwards in impetuous haste, to be succeeded by 

 another and another, like racing specials, announcing their 

 passage across the sky. So far as my experience goes, it is 

 rarely that any of these north-bound Whimbrels alight 

 within the area of the Metropolis ; the birds seem always 

 too much in a hurry to linger by the way. The Arctic 

 summer is short, the journey to the breeding-grounds 

 is far, and a brood has safely to be reared and started 

 on its way south before the polar world sinks into the 

 lethargy of its long winter sleep. In autumn the con- 

 ditions of the journey are vastly different. As soon as 

 the young can fly even moderately well the southern 

 passage begins, the birds gaining strength rapidly as they 

 go, and the first individuals reach us in August. The 

 strenuous haste of the spring flight is replaced by a leisurely 

 desire to take things easily, and consequently many Whim- 

 brels alight here and there by the way. During August 

 and September the flocks recross the Metropolis, young 

 birds preponderating, and it is mostly individuals of the 

 latter that are tempted to descend and rest on the water- 

 side or the wet, marshy spots of Greater London. These 

 odd Whimbrels are by no means shy ; they are young and 

 inexperienced in the ways of man, and too often pay for 

 their trustfulness with their lives. The Whimbrel is not 

 known to breed anywhere on the mainland of the British 

 Islands, but a few pairs nest on the Scotch islands. The 

 habits of the bird are very similar to those of the Curlew ; 

 it nests in the same manner, and its four eggs are very 

 similar, but much smaller. 



The Whimbrel so closely resembles the Curlew in 

 general coloration that it is widely known amongst 

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